[caption id="attachment_11492" align="alignleft" width="108" caption="Corn syrup prodct"]
[/caption]Carol Forsloff UCLA researchers find sugar helps cancers grow more quickly, which is a wake-up call about the American diet.
Pancreatic cancers especially thrive on fructose, and many American foods contain this simple kind of sugar.
"The bottom line is the modern diet contains a lot of refined sugar
including fructose, and it's a hidden danger implicated in a lot of
modern diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and fatty liver," said Dr.
Anthony Heaney, an associate professor of medicine and neurosurgery and a
Jonsson Cancer Center researcher. Heaney also serves as co-director of the Pituitary Tumor and Neuroendocrine Program at UCLA. She explains, "In this study, we show that cancers can use fructose just as readily as glucose to fuel their growth."
including fructose, and it's a hidden danger implicated in a lot of
modern diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and fatty liver," said Dr.
Anthony Heaney, an associate professor of medicine and neurosurgery and a
Jonsson Cancer Center researcher. Heaney also serves as co-director of the Pituitary Tumor and Neuroendocrine Program at UCLA. She explains, "In this study, we show that cancers can use fructose just as readily as glucose to fuel their growth."
The study is published in the Aug. 1 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Cancer Research.
Some sources of fructose include cane sugar (sucrose) and high-fructose corn
syrup (HFCS), a corn-based sweetener that has been on the market since
about 1970. HFCS accounts for more than 40 percent of the sweeteners
added to foods and beverages, and it is used more than any other type of
sweetener, in soft drinks.
syrup (HFCS), a corn-based sweetener that has been on the market since
about 1970. HFCS accounts for more than 40 percent of the sweeteners
added to foods and beverages, and it is used more than any other type of
sweetener, in soft drinks.
Furthermore, the use of these sweeteners has grown 1000 percent from 1970 - 1990.
Heaney and his team looked at the pancreatic tumors of patients, adding
glucose to one set of cells and fructose to another. Pancreatic cells
grew more rapidly with fructose, which it was found they could easily
distinguish from glucose.
glucose to one set of cells and fructose to another. Pancreatic cells
grew more rapidly with fructose, which it was found they could easily
distinguish from glucose.
The
value of the study is reflected by researchers pointing out how
fructose is used more often than glucose. "They have major significance
for cancer patients, given dietary refined fructose consumption."
Researchers believe that like smoking a federal effort should be set up
to reduce the use of fructose.
value of the study is reflected by researchers pointing out how
fructose is used more often than glucose. "They have major significance
for cancer patients, given dietary refined fructose consumption."
Researchers believe that like smoking a federal effort should be set up
to reduce the use of fructose.
"I
think this paper has a lot of public health implications," Heaney said.
"Hopefully, at the federal level, there will be some effort to step
back on the amount of HFCS in our diets."
think this paper has a lot of public health implications," Heaney said.
"Hopefully, at the federal level, there will be some effort to step
back on the amount of HFCS in our diets."
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